Chapter 08 - Whitewash
My eyed opened a couple times, and I stirred. Each time I did, I felt a rush of warm air on my shoulder. I got shushed and some sweet little kisses that sent me back to sleep. These interruptions of my rest only lasted for mere seconds, before my lids cranked back down like a metal safety door being lowered over a convenience store plate glass window to protect it overnight.
How strange it feels to report that a girl makes me feel all warm and safe, yet her and Merry can both do it. The last time I woke up, it was the cat. I suppose it decided we were not only benign but benevolent as well. The abundant pillows and blankets and sleeping bag created natural piles and hollows, and the cat chose one to get worked down into.
I'd say that the cat was acting like the humans were, but that wouldn't be very accurate. If anything, the humans were imitating cat behavior. We found a basement to get into, and were snuggling under blankets and huddling for body warmth. I heard some high winds howling outside, and nestled back in. I didn't rouse to full awake until I heard soft human speech. Szarabjorna was talking to the cat. This reminds me so much of Merry in the cabin during winter, its almost as good as being back home. I rolled over and nestled into the two of them.
"Hmm. Did we wake you up? Sorry about that."
"No. Its fine. At home? Me and Merry would be doing the same exact thing. Just, with a different cat is all."
"How is Mister Fuzzy, and Bitty Kitty."
"My Mister Fuzzy? He's not young anymore, I can say that much. But, he does okay."
Zar gave me one of her morning smiles, I had almost forgotten how wonderful they were.
"And Bitty?"
"Mm. Pretty sure he's younger than Fuzz. They're both fine, really."
"Panic, when I say some days I miss... this? You know what I mean."
I thought about that.
"Yeah, sure. I mean, most people have an ex, it means they broke up. We, never really broke up. Not like, other people do it."
I can add to that.
"You like having your own deal, though. Your own family."
Her smile radiated and her eyes glistened some.
"I do."
"That's good, Zar."
"Hmm. Its great, is what it is. I honestly, never thought I'd ever have... a husband, let alone my own little family. And really, me, being a mom? Christ. Never in a million years, did I ever think that was for me."
"Well, it is now."
"Yeah."
I yawned and moved around some.
"I have to pee, but I don't want to get up."
"I know the feeling. I hate to disturb his majesty, here."
I joined her making over the cat, who was eating it up. One of those big tough tomcats, battle scars and everything. Yet laying like a little baby kitty, being adored.
"This ain't no alley cat, Panic. Maybe now, but... no way he didn't have a good family at one time."
"Yeah. Look, we got a present."
I followed her eyes. A dead mouse was near the food dishes.
"Wow. Nothing says I love you, like a dead thing."
"I know, right. You think he's allowed in here like this?"
"Not sure, but maybe. He seemed like he had his own bathroom, and bed box. He knew to howl at the door, when he heard we were down here."
"I guess. You think we can leave him in here, when we go out? Its really shitty out. Didn't really warm up today."
"I don't see why not. He's not hurting anything. Besides, Zar. We're paying a hundred bucks a night for these luxury accommodations and all. We didn't get a mini bar, so I'll take the cat in place of that."
"Merry always did say it. If she didn't have Bitty Kitty when she met you, you might not have stayed over the first couple times."
"Well, I don't know about all that. But, the cat did kind of seal the deal."
Var waited before the next morning truth serum question.
"I think a good night's sleep, did you a world of good."
I wiggled around, even if it wasn't the full morning stretch yet.
"Oh, definitely."
I sighed before continuing.
"I admit it. I needed that."
Var gave little facial shrug.
"I know. Merry always talked about that."
"What."
"When you met her. She thought it was the sweetest thing ever. You were obviously wiped out. Pushing yourself. So tired you couldn't sleep. She said you were literally killing yourself. Trying to help people you never met in your life."
I nodded. It was a big case, and it took a long time to gain traction. Like this one, but months instead of days.
"I was on a couple hours a night, and I was back up. I stayed over with her? Couldn't stay awake for a movie, woke up the next morning. I started sleeping again."
"I know. Remember. Junior had just met you back then, too. Even he noticed it, and mentioned it."
"Yeah. Merry relaxes me."
"How about me. Do I relax you, like that."
"Yes, little one. You do."
"Good. Merry told me, before you got there. You're driving all night. Make sure you get sleep. You'll push yourself too hard like that."
"Well, thanks. What time is it, anyways."
She snagged her phone, before answering.
"About eleven thirty. And before you ask? I think we got to bed, around midnight. So, almost twelve hours."
"Mm. No wonder I feel better."
"That, and you got somewhere. On your... job."
"Yeah, I did. And that does make it easier. To sleep, I mean."
"So, how's that going. What are you figuring on, now. Or, is it a secret."
"Well, I'd call it... confidential. I trust you, and its not that big a deal. But still, keep it under your hat."
"I promise. I'm used to that from JR, and when Mike comes around."
"Well. Guy was supposed to meet someone. At the diner. You know that much, I'm sure. You were there."
"Sure."
"You pretty much know what I know. They're supposed to meet up. Then, just go off somewhere. Exchange information. Its called, a meet and greet."
"Sounds all, cloak and dagger."
I found myself issuing a mild chuckle.
"Okay. We'll call it, cloak and dagger lite. This isn't a murder case he's coming in on. Its... numbers on paper. Financial irregularities, at some big business. They call it white collar crime."
"Okay. Some company is, what. Cheating on their taxes, or whatever. Like that."
"Yeah. So, the guy goes off. Says he's going to do his meeting. He'll call as soon as its over. But? He never calls. Poof."
"And that doesn't sound suspicious to you?"
I rolled onto my back, and laced my fingers behind my head.
"I mean, maybe it would. But, Zar. First off, this isn't a murder case we're talking about here. Its, like you said. Someone cheating on corporate taxes or something. Also? Look around you. Look what happened to us. The weather? There's probably missing people all over the place right now. Guy traveling, checks into a motel. Power's out in some places, cell phones go down? Yeah, people are technically missing, but... not like they won't show up later. Other than a few people are going to freeze to death, I guess."
She got a little somber.
"Which, if this goes on much longer, will be this guy."
Now I got quiet, too.
"Yeah. I'm probably looking for more of a Popsicle now. That's why I was going nuts, with no sleep for a while. But..."
"But what."
"Check the phone. See what the temperature got down to last night."
"Oh. Couple degrees below zero, last night. Today? Only going up to ten."
"Yeah. The wolf finally came down from the north. I mean, look at it. Face value. Guy wasn't dressed for winter. I know that, from the waitress. He's not driving any kind of a winter vehicle, either. Look at my truck, look at what Pounder drives in this mess. He's used to the city, I highly doubt he had winter supplies in his little car. So yeah. And as mean as it sounds, no sense I get us killed in some snowdrift, because I fell asleep at the wheel."
"Think we'll find him?"
"Mm. I gotta try. We're already here. If there's a car off the road somewhere nearby? Pounder's a professional at that, when you think about it. And then, I mean think about it. Guy's got family. Or friends, coworkers. They deserve to know. Not, wonder until this mess thaws out. Might as well see the job through."
"Yeah. I see your point."
"And besides, Zar. This is like a vacation. Look how much fun we're having."
I got her to laugh a little, and I caught it as well. Laughter, the best medicine. It goes to morale.
"You going to go pee now?"
"Uh, pretty soon, yeah. Tell you what. How about... you? Go first."
"Oh. Some gentleman you are. I warm that toilet seat from 1910 up for you."
"Well..."
I glanced down at the blankets and sleeping bag.
"I'd appreciate it. I'm kind of having, you know. Issues, here."
Zar giggled.
"Oh. Gotcha. Morning wood."
"Yeah. We're snuggling under the covers, for body heat. In our underwear."
I got to enjoy the fun little show, as she extricated herself from the covers slowly. Trying not to disturb His Majesty, the cat. The childish laughter and shivers, some dancing in place before tiptoeing quickly over to get the morning tinkles over with. More shivers and zipping back to get under the covers.
"Technically, I'm in your underwear. And, holy Christ. If my nipples get any harder, I think they're going to explode."
Yeah, that's another thing Merry and Szarabjorna share. They're so subtle, the way they phrase things sometimes. We went through the routine of getting dressed, then the new thing with all the gyrations Zar has to go through with her oversize chore boots. Now she's looking at me, and I know some sort of interrogative is coming.
"What."
Zar shrugged.
"Well. What do we do for fun today."
"How about breakfast."
"Okay. I'll heat some water. You can make the war food."
She means the MRE packs. Meals, Ready, to Eat.
"I was thinking, gourmet."
"Oh my. Another sit down meal. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear you were trying to get into my panties."
"Well, you do know better. And for the record?"
"Yeah."
"As you already pointed out. I'd be trying to get into my own boxers. You're wearing, my boxers."
"Oh, that. You mind?"
"I don't care. Pretty sure Junior sprayed you for girl cooties."
"I left my collar at home, though. Didn't know I'd need it."
"I'm willing to take that risk. You ready?"
"About as ready a I'm ever going to be."
She's right. The wind was still howling, you could hear it. We'd be lucky if it went over ten degrees today. Wind chill has to be for absolute shit. We checked to see if the cat wanted out. Little guy came over to the door to the alley, and looked around outside. Then back up at us.
"Panic, he doesn't seem all that interested in being outside."
Indeed. The cat just sauntered back over to the pile of loose sand in the far corner, did his thing and kicked back over it. Then back to the pile of pillows, blankets and winter sleeping bag.
"The cat's got more sense than we do, I think. Lets go."
We made sure the cat had some jerky near the sleeping bag, and a pan of fresh water. Then off we went. Once into the truck, I remembered the little care package Merry put together for Zar, in case we got stuck somewhere. She started going through the little stash of fun things we knew she'd appreciate, when she came up with actual stash. What looked like a thin can of travel deodorant spray, really wasn't. Sure, you can shoot some nice smelling name brand stuff out of it, but that's wasting it. The bottom unscrews to reveal your wad of money, important papers, or in this case... a nice little sack of buds. Zar knows what it is, its not as if we all haven't partaken together before. None of us is a real heavy drinker, this is better.
"Hey. What's with keeping it all to yourself."
"Oh, hell. I plum forgot that was in there. You want some? We'll do it when we get back from breakfast."
"The hell. Do it now, we'll have a bigger breakfast. Wake and bake."
I considered it.
"I don't want everyone smelling it. The cops eat at the diner too, honey. And remember. I don't go fishing with the chief and the mayor, like back at home."
She gave me her best sparkling eyes replete with wiggling eyebrows.
"Hold on. I got you covered."
She dug through her purse, and came up with two little vaping pens.
"You know these puppies don't smell funny. You can blow it right in a cop's face. No one can tell."
She had a point.
"That isn't the... jet fuel, is it? I don't think the nice investigator with the FBI ID, should be giggling and drooling over his pancakes, honey."
"Hmm. This one? Jet fuel. Great for getting to sleep, when you're traveling. And this one? I like it for morning or lunch break. And no, it doesn't make me drool all over my keyboard, back at work."
What the hell. I feel better, with a good night's sleep now under my belt. We each had a couple good draws.
"We okay for money, Panic?"
"Sure. I brought extra money, in case we needed to hole up in a motel somewhere, for god knows how long. Plus, I get all my expenses back. Mike was pretty happy I agreed to help him and Junior out, looking for this guy. Why."
"Just making sure I can order up, at the diner. As long as we're not watching our pennies."
"No, nothing like that. Get anything you want. We're roughing it, and if food boosts the troop's morale? So much the better. Sorry you got dragged along on this extended errand. But, we got an expense account on this one. Use it. I don't care."
"Okay. Can we get something for Kitty, too?"
"Hell yeah."
Screw it. Coffee and danishes, and two of those big lumberjack everything specials. Zar reminded me of my promise to get something for the cat, so I got a lumberjack to go. He ate green beans, he'll probably like it. Most cats will eat eggs and sausage gravy, and I ain't seen a cat yet that didn't think bacon and sausage wasn't a treat. I ended up out back to touch base on my mission. I got a hold of JR.
"Hey. How's my favorite potato-nigger doing."
"Pretty good. Sleeping with your wife, actually. You fucking pollack."
I got the laughter I was going for. Hey, real guys have to fuck with each other. Any two people in my estimation have to display this. Because if you're not comfortable going to the lowest common denominator, fully expecting them to take it as humor? You're just at best acquaintances. There's a very definite depth to friendship and love, when you just know. Not think, but know. Everything will be all right, nothing will be off limits.
"See, that's how I know she's safe with you."
I have to banter back. Its a moral imperative. Guy rules.
"Because she's safe, sleeping with a real man. I understand."
"No, senpai. Do I really have to break this down for you."
"Sure. I'll share it with your wife tonight. When we're snuggling for warmth, in the sleeping bag. Entertain me."
"Well. First off? You try way too hard. The whole, over the top tough guy shit? I mean, who are you fooling. With your whole, look how butch I am. Its a cope."
I inadvertently let a little chuckle escape. But he did say break it down, so there has to be at least a part two.
"And next up? Your Freudian slip, gives you away. You said it yourself. Sleeping. No, a real man? Would be fucking her. Fine piece of ass like that, legs up to her neck. Its sad, really. Snuggling? Please."
"JR? Great banter. You win this round."
"I let you win once in a while? To give you hope. That way its more cruel, when I destroy you. Like now, for instance."
"Junior. You should have quit while you were ahead. Stealing Little Robbie's material? A new low, even for you. I expected more."
"Hey. Way to get a point on the board, anon. You at least stopped the whitewash."
"Ironic you put it like that. Speaking of a whitewash."
"Yeah?"
"I can't get Uncle Mikey on the phone. Not even his burner. Cell coverage here sucks. Figured I'd touch home base with you. You can relay."
JR was all business now, I could detect it in his voice.
"Go. You need to come back on my burner?"
"Its good."
"What's kicking, brother."
"Like I said. Whitewash. I finally got some sleep, and... I'm starting to think, I'm just looking for a frozen specimen. You got anything on your end?"
"Well, I ain't got shit on hospitals. No records coming in. Speeding tickets, parking tickets, motels. No arrests, nothing."
"That good."
"Yeah. You got anything?"
"Not much."
"Anything, is better than what we had going into this shit. What do you have, then."
"Well, I can confirm our boy makes the diner."
"Witness?"
"Unless the whole town is in on a conspiracy... seems like. I got a description of him and the car."
"A cold description?"
"Yeah. Not my first rodeo."
"Okay. He makes the diner. His last contact said that, but confirmation? Always a plus. Please tell me you have more."
"Yeah. I located an off the books towing guy, for lack of a better word."
"Okay."
"That guy, and his girlfriend that goes out jitney towing with him, in bad snow? Both, gave a completely cold description of the guy and his car."
"Hey. Two points. Got a location?"
"Remember the coordinates the guy does his Houdini?"
"No way."
"Yep."
"Anything else."
"Conjecture. Coincidence."
"Don't make me beg. Mike beats my ear on this."
"That spot. I went and sat there. You know. Look around, drink it in."
"Routine."
"Yeah, but what wasn't routine, was this. Giant state snow plow, pushed me and Zar over the hill. I had to wait to get rescued. We were buried in whitewash."
"He hit you?"
"No. The big plows throw so much damn snow? It kind of mudslides you into the ditch."
"My wife okay? I could give three shits about you, but... just to pretend I even like you..."
"We're fine, thanks for all the concern."
"Okay. You, want the guy picked up when this shit breaks, or what."
"No. My tow guy I hooked up with here? Turns out the really big plow trucks, really that just happens. Its a visibility thing."
"Did not know that. How is this connected."
"Its not. But, what are the odds. I sit in the same spot he does a disappearing act? I get buried over the hill."
"Hmm. I mean, you are a try-hard guy. I know you poked around, see if the guy was---"
"Nothing. But, what are the odds here. I don't believe in coincidence, at least not easily."
I could practically hear Junior's brain clicking.
"I hear you. Can you ID the plow?"
"Yeah. Its big. It throws an avalanche. It goes by every once in a while, on these back road state routes."
"Okay. No APB on that."
"Yeah. You think Mike would want me to stay on this?"
"Based on how he went from... its an errand, to bugging me? I'll say yes for now. How pissed is Zar about this."
"She's okay with it. She's having fun, sort of. You know. She's on a little case with me. Novelty."
"I could see that. Anything you need?"
"Manpower would be nice, but..."
"I know. We can't get anything like that, in this mess."
"Well, the locals can't really do much under a state emergency storm. Hell, state police are probably bored, too. Send me a few warm bodies. I bet there's flatfoots with winter personal vehicles. A few bucks for gas cards and hand out some gift cards for donuts and coffee. What the hell would it hurt."
"I'll run that by Mike. But, this is weird."
"How so."
"He wants it kept more quiet than ever now."
"Great. I been flashing my ID around. You guys said keep it unofficial and quiet, but its not any kind of a state secret."
"I know, I know. Here's the skinny. Mike thinks its just weird, that he can't get much on this. His exact words? It would be easier to pull teeth out of a donkey."
"Well, it wasn't a priority. Everyone's understaffed right now. Everyone has more important shit going to hell right now, I'm sure."
"That's just it. Mike himself, can't get anything. He went to the assistant director, and they even tried to give him the runaround."
"Like Mike's going to settle for that routine."
"Tell me about it. Mike went to the director himself, to free up some tongues."
"And?"
"Still not much."
"What are you telling me then."
"Just that its weird, that's all."
"But, it makes sense. From the winter storm point of view."
"Looks like it. If Mike gets anything, you'll be the first to know."
I thought about it.
"I mean, its still just a missing car in a hell of a snowstorm."
"Yeah. Hey, senpai. I got more good news."
"Including, but not necessarily limited to..."
"The ice storm. Its taking out power lines and cell phone towers, left and right."
"Hell. The shitty cellphone coverage here? The power is the only thing I'd miss."
"Well. Just plan on it. Its working its way there."
"How long do I have."
"Minimum, twenty four. Maximum? I'd guess forty-eight. Ballpark it, around thirty-six or thereabouts."
"Okay. If we go off grid, you know not to worry."
"Whose ass did you have to kick, to get a motel room."
"I wish. I ended up paying decent hotel rates, for get this. The free run of a junk store basement, after hours."
"Shitty, but resourceful. How happy is my wife with the accommodations. Or dare I ask."
"Well, she's surprisingly chill about it. She seems to really look forward to midnight snuggle time. Go figure."
I got the chuckles I was nosing around for, trying to get another point on the board.
"Okay. Good setup, and fairly great execution on that one."
"I try."
"Oh, hey. Before I get off here. Can I get an address? Mike technically has an asset in play, even if it is a shit errand and all."
"Oh, hell. I forgot to check. Coordinates all right?"
"Hell. The way GPS sends everyone to old mail box locations, instead of houses out in the country? Coordinates are even better. I could put a dot on a map, instead of a circle."
"Go by time. I assume you track my phone."
"And Zar's, too. Go ahead."
"Last night, from about midnight until noon today? That's home base."
"The junk store. Gotcha."
"And, where I am now? Is just out back from the diner everyone goes to out here."
"A diner? Or... the diner."
"The diner."
"That's, the one with the preliminary waitress ID. Car and body. I'll call that as your field office."
"Affirmative. You need anything else?"
"No such thing as too much information, brother. What about, your tow guy."
"Oh yeah. Go where I was at for a couple hours, before midnight. That, is my tow guy's headquarters."
"House?"
"No. More of a, metal outbuilding. Pretty big. Him and his uncle are gear heads, and restore all kinds of fun toys."
"Nice. Got yourself a temporary motor pool."
That stopped me short.
"Junior? You're a genius."
"So I keep telling myself. What else can the one and only Pigeon Man, do for you. While I got the old crystal ball warmed up and all."
"Okay, since you're on a roll. Riddle me this. You got GPS tracking, on the object vehicle."
"Had, but... yeah. Why."
"We lose signal."
"That's putting it mildly. Me and Mike were surprised you didn't find a wrecked object vehicle, at the Houdini coordinates. So, he gets pulled out, by your tow guy?"
"Cold description, to a capital letter T."
"So, how does the signal go out."
"JR? That was my opening question. Restating the question, isn't helping me. I asked you. How many ways can the signal wink out like that."
"Well. Remind me to tell you before you hang up, why I find it a unique choice for the GPS unit they used."
"Okay. And?"
"All the agencies have years of experience now, at the GPS tracking devices. Hell, for twenty bucks? Any asshole can get one for their god damn key-chain now. But. We almost always use the rear tail lights, because everything is LED now. They really can't burn out, so who the hell would ever go into a working tail light assembly."
"Okay. Go on."
"Statistically, most collisions will tend to be front end. The back end, is a safer bet."
"So, a rear end hit would still take it out."
"That's just it. You solder it into the wiring harness? You can ram it with a cement truck. The device itself? Is covered inside in a little box of epoxy. That NASA would like to use on the space shuttle to try to hold the heat shields in place. So, what I'm saying is this. You can just about accordion the car up, from behind? Usually, the wire and the device just get inside the tin foil ball. They almost always work, even after getting raped in the ass by a tractor trailer, for Christ's sake."
"But its a DC device. If you lose power..."
"The better ones? Have little lithium ion batteries that carry them forever, even without power. Look at the picture I'm drawing you. You can cut the power, even cut the wiring harness in two. That battery backup? Will transmit fine. The armor epoxy? There's almost no killing it."
"So. Let me brainstorm another way, then."
"I'm all ears."
"Well, you're Polish? So you kind of have no choice on that one."
"You know I'm not even Polish, but I still have to give you a point on that one. You are climbing up out of the cellar, on my initial burn. But, what's the brainstorm."
"We have a mystery, about the GPS signal going out."
"We do. Your point?"
"Go about this the formal logic way. Fuck what could or should have happened. How would you, personally, go about disabling the signal. For whatever reason. I been thinking, what. Tunnel, or under the ice on a pond or something. What else."
"Those would both work."
"Any other way? I mean, any way at all. I entertain all things possible."
"Well. Even if you knew where it was located? Lets say you take the tail light out, because you know. It still should transmit. We should see some kind of pecker trail away from where they cut it out."
"What about a fire, then. Car got torched. Or, car caught fire in a collision, then does a flaming endo off an overpass. Crash and burn is a possibility, right. Winter storm, wreck? Just looking for a puzzle piece that would fit."
"It'll transit, longer than you think? In a god damn fire. And you even know there's a fire? From the temperature code, inside the signal. I'll answer that more, this way. Remember I said to remind me, what was weird about the choice of GPS tracking unit?"
"Okay."
"For such a no big deal meet and greet, mind you. You can not possibly buy at any price? A better GPS transponder unit. I'm jealous, and I'm the STEM-lord tech guy, if you remember. I mean, I can get these? But I need a special reason. Panic, this little beauty is accurate? To within an inch."
I stopped to contemplate, before bouncing ideas again.
"Humor me. Did you guys nail down which agency, went looking for a broker for their routine meet and greet."
"Oh yeah. Its the FTC, for Christ's sake. Remember, it was a financial doohickey. So it was their ballgame on paper."
"Wow. Would you even think they have that kind of tech and IT in their basement."
"Until today? Not really, no. Maybe they track envelopes, for financial shit. Charge it up, and put it in the mail. Who knows. You learn something every day, though. As long as we're doing trivia and all."
I paused again.
"Question, Pigeon Man. What possible reasons can you come up with, for using that good of a device. I mean, its complete overkill."
"Hmm. Federal agencies, to keep their budget from fiscal year to fiscal year? Will invent ways to spend all their money, just do they don't get a cut. That's one possibility."
"Once again, our hard earned tax dollars, ever so wisely spent by our fearless leaders. What else."
"Well. Another possibility would be, if that was all I had on hand. I mean, pretend you need to borrow a car. Would you complain, when the only loaner available, was a Cadillac."
"Okay. Is that it?"
"Mm. I mean, there's a certain logic to the idea that... if job number one, and job number two was see job number one? If I cared about nothing else, but knowing to within an inch where that car was. It would be the best choice."
"All right. Anything else you can think of, I might need to know?"
"No. And if I suddenly do, you'll be the first to know about it."
I heard someone crunching through the ice cap on top of the deep snow. It was Szarabjorna.
"Hey, JR. Guess who just came out to use the phone. You wanna talk to your wife?"
"Sure."
I gave her the phone, and reminded her to hold it up in the air to try to hold that one bar I had going on right at the moment. I went back in to give her some privacy. A husband and wife apart from each other, I figured a few sweet nothings might be par for that course. With nothing else too pressing or anything big to act on? I'll chew my cud for a while, try to come up with something.
Just when I start to get somewhere, I get nothing but more questions.